10 most common dog breeds in UK rescue centres, thanks to being "too ugly for Instagram"

Social media could be to blame for the rise in ‘unfashionable’ dog breeds being left in animal rescue shelters across the UK, according to upsetting new research.

Dogsblog.com teamed up with Direct Line to conduct the survey, finding that 55% of dog shelters believe celebrities and social media are making some dog breeds more appealing than others to pet owners. This is because some are believed to look better in photographs.

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Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Akitas and Greyhounds are the most common dog breeds currently found in animal rescue centres in the UK (all beautiful, if you ask us), while Pugs are deemed the most desirable to own.

Instagram culture and celebrity owners, such as Lady Gaga with her French Bulldog, and Jessica Alba’s Pugs, may be causing harm to some breeds.

See the most common dog breeds abandoned in rescue shelters in the list below...

10 most common dog breeds in rescue shelters in the UK

1. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

2. Akita

3. Greyhound

4. Jack Russell

5. German Shepherd

6. Rottweiler

7. Bulldog

8. Labrador

9. English Setter

10. Beagle

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Bluebell is 10 years old and has spent most of her life being overlooked in rescue. She needs your help to spread the word and help her find a special someone.

When potential dog owners visit animal shelters, Pugs, French Bulldogs and Chihuahuas are among the top requested and waiting lists for these breeds are much larger than their more ‘undesirable’ counterparts.

Top 5 breeds most frequently requested in shelters

1. Pug

2. Labrador

3. French Bulldog

4. Chihuahua

5. Bulldog

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The research also revealed that 95% of shelters blame owners being inspired by celebrities or fashion trends to impulsively purchase a dog without understanding the responsibilities of owning one, as the most common reason for their abandonment.

“Not every person who buys or adopts a popular breed or cross-breed will do so having been inspired by celebrities or the Instagram culture that makes some breeds more fashionable than others,” Ryan O’Meara, Dogsblog.com co-founder, said.

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“However, it is evident that changes in the popularity of certain breeds coincide with celebrity and influencer ownership, which often dictates which breeds we are most commonly seeing abandoned to shelters.

“Sadly, dogs that have fallen in numbers, such as Boxers or German Shepherds, are also some of the most common breeds in animal rescue shelters, as owners are more likely to pick ‘fashionable’ breeds when adopting. For those dogs abandoned by their owners, our research showed that the average age of a dog left in a rescue shelter is just two years and two months old, which supports our research showing a correlation between the fast pace of ever-changing social popularity and pet abandonment.”

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“We believe the rising popularity of certain breeds is driven by celebrity ownership and instead, we urge pet owners to decide which breed is right for them by doing thorough research and assessing whether the dog’s needs and temperament will work with their set-up,” Prit Powar, head of Pet Insurance at Direct Line, said.

“Would-be owners should also consider the health risks associated with certain breeds and the possible costs involved. All of these are important ways that we can help significantly reduce the likelihood of dogs ending up in rescue shelters.”

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